AMRs offer game-changing opportunity for Middle East’s energy sector

The democratisation of AMRs presents a game-changing opportunity for the Middle East's energy sector, but realising its full potential requires a holistic approach to optimisation, Meriem Debbabi, Head of Industrial and Consumer - MENA, Endava, tells OGN

- ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

AUTONOMOUS Mobile Robots (AMRs) are transforming the energy sector, bringing automation to tasks that are repetitive, costly and often hazardous.

From offshore oil platforms to refineries and power plants, AMRs are stepping in to improve efficiency, reduce human risk, and enhance operational visibility.

Until recently, however, deploying robotics at scale required heavy upfront investment, deep technical expertise, and a significant maintenance burden, making widespread adoption a challenge.

But this is rapidly changing. Advances in Al, cloud computing and robotics-as-a-service (Raas) models have significantly lowered the barrier to entry.

AMRs are now more accessible, programmable and adaptable than ever, with off-the-shelf solutions readily available for industry-specific applications.

As a result, the industrial robotics market in the Middle East is expanding rapidly.

In Saudi Arabia, for example, revenue was forecast to reach more than $18 million last year and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 1.5 per cent over the next four years, according to research consultancy Statista.

Moreover, we're already seeing this growth translate into real-world adoption. It’s not uncommon in the Middle East to now see autonomous inspection robots deployed at large-scale oil refineries and offshore platforms to conduct routine safety checks, detect gas leaks, and monitor equipment health in hazardous environments.

This shift is exciting, but if energy companies hope to realise the full potential of powerful new off-the-shelf robotics solutions, they must first take a structured approach to ensure AMR adoption delivers tangible value. Here are five key prerequisites for success.

MODERNISING THE TECH STACK

For AMRs to function seamlessly, they need an ecosystem that can support real-time data capture, processing and transmission.